Staple remover for strapping or the like



March 21, 1961 C. H. FENNELL STAPLE REMOVER FOR STRAPPING OR THE LIKE Filed May 26, 1959 ATTORNEY 2,976,016 4 Patented -Ma-r. j 21, 15961 ice 2,976,016 STAPLE-REMOVER' 1% STRAPPING oR THE fiharles HaFennell, 99th =Engr.- Co. (-RB), 30 Engr. Bu. '(BT), Presidio of San Francisco, Calif.

Filed May 26, 1959, Ser. No. 816,026

I 13 Claims. Cl. 254-28) (Granted vunder Title 3,5,'U.S.1Code (1952),.sec.-266) The invention described herein, if :patented, may be manufactured and used 'by;or;for the Government'for governmental purposes, without thepayment to me of any royalty thereon.

The-invention relates ttortools forremo-ving staples and more particularly to adevicefor removing staples which secure a steel or other band, a wire or the like froman object encircled by said band. The removal or such staples presents several problems notencountered in the removal of other nails or staples. ,-In thetfirst place, the'band or the like is under tension andis'tightly held to the object bythe staples evenafter the band has been severed. Thus, the loose ends 'ofthe band tend to recoil as-each staple is lifted whereby endanger the handsof the person operating the tool. Also,--so much force must-be applied to lift these staples that they are frequently flipped upwardly by the lifting portion of the :tool into the face of the operator.

With the foregoing in view, itis an object-of the invention to provide an improved staple lifting or removing tool which not only protects the operator from flying staples .but alsotproteotsfhisghands from'the recoiling band ends.

A further object is to-provide animproved staple lift ing'toolwhich includes means which grip the b'andbefore' the stapleis lifted and whichmaintains its grip until after the-liftingof the staple has been-completed. I

-A further object is to provide a staple lifting tool such as that last described'which includes also iaxnovel hand guard.

A further object is to provide a novel staple lifting tool such as that last described wherein such hand guard includes a novel band clamping portion. I

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, the structure of the several elements of the same, combinationsand subscorn'binations of such elements with each other and/ or with a staple,.a

band oran object, all of which will be readily apparent 'to those skilledin the art upon reference to the attached Figure 3-is a view like Figure 2 but showing a second stage in the removal of a staple;

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken I substantially onthe plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

' Figure 5 is aplan view, a portion of the handle being broken away; and

Figure 6 is a l-exploded perspective view showing the several'ele'ments ofthe invention, apart of .thehandle being-brokenaway. V t H Referring specifically ftoltthe drawing, wherein -like reference charactersv designate like partsin'all views, 10

designates generally a base'member which :comprisesa substantially vertical web 11 having an integralzb'ottom flange which includes portions 12 and 13 which extend laterally of said web in both directions. .A projection 14 depends from said flange and extends transversely thereof to provide a fucrum for rocking the same. The front end 15 of the flange portion is .is pointed and beveled to provide a staplelifting portion. 'Likewise'the rear endrlfi of the flangeportion 13 may be'beveled'rto facilitate the application of such flangeiportion beneath a band 17, the tool being thereafter .movedjforwardly until the .front end 1'5 is in proximity .toor ractuallyrbeneath a staple 18, see Figures 2 and 3. A fixed stop l9.may be formed on the web 11 in overlying relation to :thezflange portion 13 fora purpose to be apparent hereinafter.

To actuate the base member ;to lift a'staple, there :has been provided a handle which is generally designated at 20.and which includes any suitable hand grip portion 21 and which may include a thumb rest v22 :forwardly of such hand grip portion. Handle 20includes arfiat and vertically disposed front end23 which is pivotally connected to the web 11 in face-to-face relation by any'suitable pivot means 24 extending through aligned holes therethrough.

The lower portion of the front end 23iis laterally idi-. rooted to provide a ledge 25 which overlies the flan-ge portion .13. The undersurface-of the ledge 25 is provided with suitable band clamping means '26 'Whichmay comprise atplurality of serrations extending transversely of the ledge rearwardly of saidpivotmeans :24.

The bandclamping means 26 overlies therear portion of the tflange portion 13, which provides zalirnit'stop :lO' limit downward movement of thehandle relativetorsuch flange portion. In like manners-the stop :19 overlies the upper edge of the fiat portion ZS-to-limi-t relative upward movement of the handle 20.

As sofar described,rthe invention may be applied-101a strap 1-7 bybeing backed thereunder with the handle 20 elevated so as to ,disposesuch strap between the :flange I member whichis generally designated at 3% andawhich positionof the device and provide a staple or face guard;

the band 17 for a considerable distance.v Suchi-portionh 'at'its rear end. As seenin Figures 2 and-.3,throughout portion 13' and the clamping means 26- of the ledge'25."

Thereafter, thetool is moved forwardly :to dispose the staple lifting portion 15 in an operative position below or i'nl proximity 'to the staple 1-18. Then the liandl'eiris moved downwardly relative to thefflange poi-tion -13 :until the strap 17 is firmly clamped betweenthe clamping T means 2'6 and such flange portion', Continued down Wardrpressure on the handle .20 will rock the base on: its fulcrum 14 whereby totelevate 'the'staple lifting :po'rtion 15, the adjacent portion-of the band 17 Jand,iof a course, :the'.staple 18, all as shown in Figuresfllzand :3.

It should-benotedj thatthroughout the staple lifting action'f the'band 17' is firmly clamped to the flange portionflii; A further feature of the invention, is. found in a guardpreferably comprises a relatively broad and generally fiat spring member; The guard :36 isdisp,osedlongitu-. f dinally of the tool and-issecu red'atop theqledgeZS inkany suitable-mannenas by the machine screw/$31.; Theguard 30 includes a front end;32 which projects fonwardly o the'ledge 25 so as to overlie the staple 18in the operative to prevent the projection of'the staple upwardlyinto the" face of the operator. 7 The guard-32 may be 'slightly:up]

wardly'curved as shownato deflect a flying staple for-ff wardly of the tool." x '0 v 1 R'earwa'rdly of the ledge 25, the" guard 30 is formed a downwardly offset'handyguard portion 33 whi'ch ov he further downwardly projecting band' clampingfportionfiel a 1 the staple lifting operation, both ends 34 'and 35 of the hand guard portion 33 resiliently clamp the band 17 against the object 36 which is encircled by the band. Thus, recoil of a freed band end is restricted to areas beyond the hand guard 33 so as to protect the operators hand from a recoiling band end. It follows, then that the tool provides a safe and rapid implement for accomplishing the objects of the invention, which tool is strong and sturdy in use, may be manufactured at low cost and may be used by unskilled personnel with a minimum of training.

Also, while there has been shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Therefore, the invention is not considered as being limited to the particular structure shown and described hereinabove but only as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A tool for lifting a steel band or the like and simultaneously lifting a staple securing such band to an object encircled by the same, comprising a rigid lifting platform adapted to be disposed in an operative position beneath said band rearwardly of a staple, said platform including a forwardly extending staple lifting portion adapted to be forced beneath that portion of said band which is below said staple as said platform is moved toward such staple to an operative position, said platform including a downwardly extending object engaging projection providing a fulcrum operative to elevate said staple lifting portion as said platform is rocked rearwardly on said fulcrum, handle means, a vertical extension of said platform laterally thereof, pivot means carried by said extension and extending transversely of said platform above the same and pivotally connecting said handle thereto for limited movement relative to said platform in a vertical plane, said handle including a band clamping portion overlying said platform and band when said platform is in said operative position, said band clamping portion being movable downwardly with said handle relative to said platform to clamp said band between said band clamping portion and said platform, and continued downward movement of said handle being operative to move said handle and platform as a unit in a direction to elevate said staple lifting portion together with said band and said staple.

2. A tool according to claim 1, there being resilient hand guard means carried by said handle and extending rearwardly of said band clamping portion, said resilient means overlying said band with said platform in said operative position, and said resilient means resiliently pressing portions of said band against said object to supplement the action of said band clamping portion as said band and staple are elevated.

3. A tool according to claim 2, wherein said resilient means includes an integral forward extension disposed to overlie said staple with said platform in said operative position.

4. A tool according to claim 1, wherein said handle includes guard means overlying said staple when said platform is in said operative position.

5. A tool for lifting a staple securing a steel band or the like to an object encircled by such band, comprising a rigid staple lifting portion adapted to be disposed beneath said band rearwardly of and in proximity with said staple, a vertical extension of said portion laterally thereof, a handle, pivot means on said extension pivotally connecting said handle to said extension for movement relative thereto toward and away from said portion, band clamping means on said handle for clamping said band against said portion as said handle is moved relative to said portion in one direction, and said handle and portion being movable as a unit to lift said staple and band upon continued movement of said handle in such direction.

6. A staple lifting tool according to claim 5, there being resilient hand guard means carried by said tool'and extending rearwardly of said portion, and said guard means resiliently engaging said band rearwardly of said portion during said lifting of said staple.

7. A staple lifting tool according to claim 5, there being a resilient strip comprising a combined staple guard and hand guard carried by said handle in overlying relation to said portion, said strip having a front end projecting forwardly of said portion and disposed to overlie said staple as the same is being lifted, and said strip having a rear end projecting rearwardly of said portion and resiliently engaging said band as said staple is being lifted.

8. A tool for lifting a staple securing a steel band or the like to an object encircled by said band, comprising a substantially vertically disposed web, a bottom flange integral with said web and extending laterally of the same in at least one direction, said flange having a front end formed to provide a staple lifting portion, a projection providing a fulcrum integral with said flange and extending downwardly therefrom transversely thereof, an actuating handle, pivot means pivotally connecting said handle to said web above said flange, said flange being adapted to be inserted beneath said band with said front end in proximity to said staple, said handle being downwardly movable relative to said flange to clamp said band between said handle and flange, and further downward movement of handle being operative to rock said flange on said fulcrumproviding projection and elevate said front end whereby to lift said staple and band.

9. A tool according to claim 8, there being a hand guard comprising a substantially flat spring carried by said handle in overlying relation to said flange, and said spring having a rear end projecting rearwardly of said flange whereby to bear resiliently on said band as said flange is rocked on said projection.

10. A tool for lifting a staple securing a steel band or the like to an object encircled by said band, comprising a substantially vertically disposed web, a bottom flange integral with said web and extending laterally of the same in at least one direction, said flange having a front end formed to provide a staple lifting portion, a projection providing a fulcrum integral with said flange and extending downwardly therefrom transversely thereof, an actuating handle, said handle having a front end including a vertically disposed flat portion and a horizontally disposed ledge disposed in overlying relation to said flange, pivot means pivotally connecting said flat portion to said web, said ledge including depending band clamping means rearwardly of said pivot means, said flange being adapted to be inserted beneath said band with said front end in proximity to said staple, said handle being downwardly movable relative to said flange to clamp said band between said band clamping means and said flange, and further downward movement of handle being operative to rock said flange on said fulcrum-providing projection and elevate said front end whereby to lift said staple and band. i

11. A tool for lifting a staple securing a band or the like to an object encircled by said band, comprising a rockable staple lifting portion adapted to be disposed beneath said band in proximity to said staple, a vertical extension of said portion laterally thereof, an actuating handle, means pivotally connecting said handle to said extension above said portion, said handle including means for first clamping said band to said portion and thereafter rocking said portion so as to simultaneously lift said band and said staple, a combined hand guard and staple guard carried by said handle in overlying relation to said band and staple, said guard including front and rear portions respectively projecting forwardly and rearwardly beyond said staple lifting portion, and said rear portion of said guard including a portion projecting rearwardly of said staple lifting portion, and said rearwardly projecting portion engaging said band and clamping the same to said object as said lifting portion is rocked to lift said band and staple.

12. A tool according to claim 11, wherein said combined guard comprises a single flat spring.

13. A tool for lifting a staple securing a steel band or the like to an object encircled by said band, comprising a substantially vertical web, a bottom flange integral with said web and extending laterally thereof in opposite directions, said flange at one side of said web having a bevelled front end to provide a staple lifting portion, a projection providing a fulcrum integral with said flange and disposed transversely thereof in depending relation thereto, an actuating handle, said handle having a flat and vertically disposed front end and a horizontally disposed ledge, pivot means pivotally connecting said flat front end of said handle to said web in face-toface relation, said ledge overlying said side of said flange having said staple lifting portion, said ledge including a depending band clamping portion overlying said last named side of said flange rearwardly of said pivot means, said side of said flange being insertable beneath said band with said staple lifting portion in proximity to said staple, said handle being downwardly movable relative to said flange to clamp said band between said band gripping means and said flange, further downward movement of said handle being operative to rock said flange on said fulcrum whereby to elevate said staple lifting portion, band and staple, and a combined hand and staple guard integral with said handle and overlying said band and staple.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 20,852 Kendall June 23, 1891 59,131 Longshore Oct. 23, 1866 2,623,729 Selby Dec. 30, 1952 

